With The Avengers, the MCU disproved the idea that Captain America was too silly of a character for a live-action movie. However, with Cap's first sequel, they showed that not only could he be taken seriously, but he may also be the perfect hero for these times.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier reinvented the character as a more complex and interesting hero. Heavily inspired by the conspiracy thrillers of the 70s, the sequel was a thrilling, game-changing MCU event that helped to define this new take on Cap. Here are the most memorable quotes from Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
On Your Left
The film opens at the Washington Monument as we are introduced to Sam Wilson aka Falcon. As he is going for a run in the park, Sam is continuously ed by the much faster Steve Rogers. Each time he es, Steve says "On your left."
The line starts as a good-spirited dig that gets Sam more and more irritated each time he hears it. The moment helps to establish this quick friendship between the fellow soldiers. However, the simple line also sets up one of the most crowd-pleasing moments in the MCU that would come later in Avengers: Endgame.
Well, I Couldn't Leave My Best Girl. Not When She Owes Me A Dance
The romance between Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger was incredibly effective. This sequel continues the story and shows the tragic reality of what this relationship became.
Steve visits Peggy in a nursing home as she is ailing and likely at the end of her life. As they reconnect and continue to share that bond, she suddenly loses herself and begins weeping at seeing Steve alive again. Steve's devastated reaction to seeing her mind slip is heart-breaking as is his line about holding on to the promise of that dance they never got to have.
I'll Put It On The List
The film wisely avoids making this a fish-out-of-water story about Steve Rogers trying to understand the 21st Century. Although the film does have a lot of fun depicting him as a man out of time.
When Steve and Sam first meet, Sam recommends Marvin Gaye's Trouble Man soundtrack as a perfect way to get caught up. Steve proceeds to write it down on a list with all the other things he should get caught up on like Star Wars, Star Trek, and Nirvana.
Was He Wearing A Parachute?
The sequel finds Cap working as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and though he is not always keen on the espionage approach to their tactics, he seems to have turned himself into a modern warrior. While flying over a hijacked ship, Steve jumps out of the plane. One of his comrades asks is he was even wearing a parachute as another soldier laughs and says "No, he wasn't."
The heroic jump kick starts the first action sequence in the film that shows Cap's new fighting style. It is an energetic and thrilling evolution of the character which makes for some of the best action in the MCU.
Hail Hydra
As Cap finds himself deeper and deeper into a large conspiracy at the center of S.H.I.E.L.D, the shocking truth finally comes out. Hydra has been secretly operating within S.H.I.E.L.D, the government, and other positions of power for years while planning to start a new world order.
Throughout the film, the secret operatives whisper "Hail Hydra" to one another, showing how deep this conspiracy goes. It is a fascinating twist that changes the MCU and puts Cap on the run from the people he thought were his allies.
Who The Hell Is Bucky?
In the midst of the massive Hydra conspiracy, the film manages to tell a personal story as well with the emergence of the Winter Soldier. This deadly assassin pursues Cap throughout the film until they come face-to-face and he is revealed to be Steve's old friend Bucky Barnes.
While Steve is shocked to see his best friend return from the grave, Bucky doesn't even know his real name. Steve's mission becomes much more complicated as he now seeks to stop Hydra while saving Bucky.
And If I'm The Only One, Then So Be It. But I'm Willing To Bet I'm Not
Hydra's evil plan in the film is to launch warships that will target anyone who poses a threat to their absolute power in the world. The majority of S.H.I.E.LD. has been told that Cap is now an enemy and launching those ships is the right thing to do.
But Cap manages to break into the headquarters and broadcast a message telling the truth. He says he is willing to stand up to Hydra and is willing to bet there are many more who will stand beside him. It is a perfect example of Cap as a hero – willing to face the enemy alone, but also able to inspire others to fight with him.
You're My Mission
It's interesting how the movie manages to make the Winter Solider a truly intimidating villain while also being a tragic character. Part of Bucky is still in their somewhere, but his brainwashing has scrambled his head. He fights between trying to and remaining an emotionless soldier.
Steve tells Bucky that he is his friend and always has been. While he struggles with his warped mind, Bucky seems too far gone. He grabs Steve and says "You're my mission" before beating him mercilessly.
I'm With You 'Til The End Of The Line
With Hydra defeated, Steve's only concern left is saving his friend. Captain America can go up against just about any enemy in a fight, so when Steve drops his shield and refuses to fight Bucky anymore, it is a powerful moment.
He tries to reason with Bucky and when Bucky seems hellbent on killing him, Steve tells him "Then finish it. 'Cause I'm with you 'til the end of the line," repeating what Bucky told him years ago. At that moment, some of Bucky Barnes returns.
Before We Get Started, Does Anyone Want To Get Out?
There is a brilliance to the film's take on Captain America as a hero from the 1940s faced with the uncertainties of today. In WWII, Cap knew who the enemies were and why they were fighting. Now, he finds himself surrounded by enemies.
This is best depicted in the iconic elevator scene. As Cap is ed by more and more agents in the elevator, he begins to realize he is literally being surrounded. As calm as ever, he asks "Before we get started, does anyone want to get out?" then proceeds to kick all their butts.
