Skip to main content
Games Radar Newsarama Total Film Edge Retro Gamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The smarter take on movies
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
Black Panther, Iron Man, Vision, War Machine, and Black Widow at the Berlin airport in Captain America: Civil War - part of our guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order
Superhero Movies How to watch the Marvel movies in order (release and chronological order)
Loki
Superhero Movies Marvel timeline: The MCU movies and TV shows in chronological order
Brie Larson as Captain Marvel in The Marvels
Marvel Movies Nia DaCosta holds no ill will towards Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios after The Marvels flopped
Guardians of the Galaxy 3
Marvel Movies Chris Pratt says the Avengers: Doomsday trailers were "really exciting", but suggests Peter Quill won't be involved
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms trailer grabs
Streaming Services 6 new movies and shows to watch this weekend on Netflix, Prime, Disney Plus, and more (January 16-18)
Wonder Man
Marvel TV Shows Wonder Man creators had "free rein" to develop Simon Williams, and answer whether he's an MCU mutant in hiding
Spider-Man: Brand New Day suit
Superhero Movies Upcoming Marvel movies and shows for 2026 and beyond
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams in Wonder Man.
Superhero Shows Wonder Man review: "A low-key gem that's up there with the MCU's best"
Shuri and M'Baku in Avengers: Doomsday's Wakanda trailer
Marvel Movies Avengers: Doomsday thanks fans for over 1 billion trailer views as the countdown officially begins
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams in Wonder Man.
Marvel TV Shows Don't skip Wonder Man, as overwhelmingly positive first reactions say it's one of the best MCU shows
Charlie Cox suits up in Daredevil: Born Again season 2
Marvel TV Shows Daredevil: Born Again season 2 release date, cast, and everything else we know about the Marvel series
Beasts of No Nation
Action Movies The 25 best Netflix action movies to watch right now
Chris Evans as Cap in the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer
Marvel Movies Avengers: Doomsday release date, cast, plot, trailer, and more news
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams talking with Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery in Wonder Man.
Marvel Movies The Marvel movies you've got to watch before tuning into Disney Plus show Wonder Man
Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier in Avengers: Doomsday
Marvel Movies The X-Men Avengers: Doomsday trailer is online, with Cyclops unleashing his powers and Magneto and Professor X as allies
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies
  3. Action Movies
  4. Marvel Movies
  5. captain america: the winter soldier

Captain America: The Winter Soldier: 10 Questions Raised

Features
By Sam Ashurst published 24 October 2013

Explosions, bad-asses, bad guys and more

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Who are the enemies?

Who are the enemies?

"Captain, to build a better world sometimes means tearing the old one down, and that makes enemies."

Redford's Alexander Pierce there, explaining the modern socio-political reality of the world Steve Rogers has woken up in.

Things aren't as black and white in modern warfare and, to quote another comic-book movie star, you can't make an omlette without breaking some eggs.

But - just to torture the metaphor for a bit - who's the omlette and who are the eggs in this scenario?

We know The Winter Soldier is Cap's main nemesis in this (we mean, duh), but who's pulling his strings? He doesn't strike us as the make-a-plan type, more of a let's-hurry-up-with-the-smashing-cars-with-my-awesome-metal-arm sort of fellow.

Could Redford be the villain? He's alluded to it in interviews, and he is giving off a majorly sinister vibe in this.

Plus, that tense handshake above? Could he be masterminding the exit of everyone's favourite eye-patch-lovin' super-spy?

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
Will Cap go rogue?

Will Cap go rogue?

Captain America started a journey in The Avengers , when he discovered that perhaps S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn't as trustworthy as an operation involving a giant floating war machine captained by a man in a pirate costume should be.

Here, he continues his questioning of the status quo. In fact, pretty much every line in this trailer that isn't a gag is dedicated to Captain's doubts.

"This isn't freedom, this is fear." Expect this to be the key theme of the movie. But how far will America go in his pursuit of the American Way?

In the Civil War series of comics, Captain turned against the government. Will he go that far here?

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Will Falcon steal the show?

Will Falcon steal the show?

Falcon is criminally underappreciated amongst comic-fans (let's face it, he's no-one's favourite) but that looks all set to change following The Winter Soldier 's release.

We only get a couple of glances at Anthony Mackie's Falcon, but what glimpses - that moment when he falls backwards with two guns only to grow wings and fly into the sky; it's basically the best John Woo scene he never filmed.

We can't wait to see more.

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
What made the heli-carrier explode?

What made the heli-carrier explode?

The Heli-Carrier managed to survive an assault from Loki's minions, and now it's being blasted out of the sky by a brainwashed bloke with a bionic arm? What did he do, wave it to death?

It's a shocking moment in the trailer - we dread to think what's caused it.

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Is The Winter Soldier going to be Marvel's most bad-ass movie villain yet?

Is The Winter Soldier going to be Marvel's most bad-ass movie villain yet?

We're joking of course, The Winter Soldier - aka Steve Rogers' best mate Bucky Barnes, brainwashed and given a Terminator makeover - is one of Marvel comics coolest villains, and it looks like the movie is making the most of his potential.

From that casual side-step as an oncoming car flips over, to the quick knife flip mid Cap fist-fight, and then ending with the trailer's last second shield snatch, it's clear he's a killing machine.

He might not be as witty as Loki, but if the devastation on display in this trailer is to be believed, he could be way, way nastier.

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Will Cap ever get lucky?

Will Cap ever get lucky?

Poor old Cap - he missed his date in The First Avenger, couldn't pick up on a hot waitress' signals in Avengers , and now, he's too busy to go on a date in T he Winter Soldier .

That's around 50 years worth of frustration he's been building up. We're actually starting to feel sorry for the bad-guys in this.

Still, at least he's got new BFF Black Widow doing her best to get him laid.

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Will Cap ever wear a parachute?

Will Cap ever wear a parachute?

We mean, COME ON. There are only so many times you can jump out of a plane face-first before you hit a seagull or something.

He did it in Avengers , he's doing it here again.

Note: each time he's stopped to say something quippy before launching himself into the sky. Maybe that's the secret to his power. Gag him, kick him out of a 747 and watch as he plummets to his death like an owl that's just insulted the Hulk.

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
Who's on the operating table?

Who's on the operating table?

Is it us or - with a hefty amount of squinting - that looks like it could be one Nick Fury on the operating table?

Throw in the brief shot of Fury driving a car, just before The Winter Soldier lobs a sticky grenade under an oncoming vehicle - flipping it upside down in a fiery ball of vehicular destruction - and we're betting that its Bucky himself who's responsible for putting Fury at death's door.

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
Is this the movie that makes Cap cool?

Is this the movie that makes Cap cool?

Some of us in the office (Okay, just Sam) think Captain America is already cool enough thank-you-very-much, but even he's prepared to admit that the movie version of the character is probably more cornball than hotdog.

But here Captain busts out the sort of fighting moves comic-fans have grown to love. And coolest of all? That shield kick flip after he's taken down an elevator full of foes.

Not that it's deviating from his established character too much; we love the fact that polite bully-hater Rogers gives his victims the option to get out of the elevator before he starts kicking off.

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Who's Robert Redford talking to?

Who's Robert Redford talking to?

"Are you ready for the world to see you as you really are? Look out the window, you know how the game works."

When we first watched this trailer, we totes assumed that Redford was talking to the Captain. But then with Mr America, what you see is what you get. And, let's be fair, with the amount of questions he's asking in this trailer, he probably doesn't even know there is a game, let alone how it works.

No, we think Samuel L. Jackon's Nick Fury is the one on the receiving end of this line - and it makes us wonder if there's an implied threat in the comment.

Is something from Fury's past about to come back to haunt him? Did he have a key role in The Winter Soldier program?

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
CATEGORIES
Disney Plus Apple Tv Plus Streaming Services
Sam Ashurst
Social Links Navigation

Sam Ashurst is a London-based film maker, journalist, and podcast host. He's the director of Frankenstein's Creature, A Little More Flesh + A Little More Flesh 2, and co-hosts the Arrow Podcast. His words have appeared on HuffPost, MSN, The Independent, Yahoo, Cosmopolitan, and many more, as well as of course for us here at GamesRadar+.

Share by:
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Whatsapp
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Read more
Chris Evans as Cap in the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer
Avengers: Doomsday release date, cast, plot, trailer, and more news
 
 
Chris Evans in Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Doomsday trailer is now in cinemas, and it confirms Marvel's worst-kept secret
 
 
Steve Rogers and Nick Fury Jr. conferring
Captain America #6 will send Steve Rogers and Nick Fury Jr's new SHIELD into the "powder keg" of a war-torn Latveria where they'll have to "reckon with the ghost of Doom" as well as the rampaging Red Hulk
 
 
Chris Evans as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Doomsday, holding a baby
The first Avengers: Doomsday trailer is now officially online, as the Russo Brothers explain why they brought Cap back
 
 
Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier
Bucky Barnes actor Sebastian Stan talks about his Marvel experience in past tense, and fans are getting worried ahead of Avengers: Doomsday
 
 
Chris Evans as Cap in the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer
Avengers: Doomsday's latest trailer has a suspicious amount of empty space – and fans think it's hiding a major spoiler
 
 
Latest in Marvel Movies
Hawkeye
Hawkeye season 2 gets a less than promising update from Marvel producer
 
 
Chris Pratt as Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy 3
Chris Pratt has pitched Marvel a "really strong vision" for Star-Lord's MCU future: "I think it's f***ing great"
 
 
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams talking with Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery in Wonder Man.
The Marvel movies you've got to watch before tuning into Disney Plus show Wonder Man
 
 
Spider-Man: Brand New Day suit
Spider-Man: Brand New Day director teases big "tonal shift" for the new movie
 
 
The Great Lakes Avengers sitting around a table in a diner
The MCU might slowly be assembling the weirdest Avengers team ever
 
 
Guardians of the Galaxy 3
Chris Pratt says the Avengers: Doomsday trailers were "really exciting", but suggests Peter Quill won't be involved
 
 
Latest in Features
Lee Byung-hun as Man-su in No Other Choice
No Other Choice's Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung-hun discuss reuniting after 20 years for their new black comedy thriller
 
 
Fortnite South Park
The Fortnite x South Park collab has me yearning for a canceled GTA-inspired game from 2005
 
 
Halo: Combat Evoled screenshot showing a grunt running away from an explosion in the sand
The head of Xbox Game Studios on Developer Direct reveals, multiplatform strategy, and hard lessons learned from 2025
 
 
Leonardo DiCaprio as Bob in One Battle After Another
Oscars 2026 predictions: who will win Best Picture, Best Director, and the major acting awards?
 
 
Fable image with Big in 2026 branding
Why Playground Games' ambitious open-world Fable reboot is a fresh start for the series: "This has to be Playground's Fable"
 
 
Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek in season 4 of Bridgerton.
New on Netflix in February 2026: all the latest movies and shows streaming this month
 
 
  1. Origin Story box and cards laid out on a wooden surface
    1
    Looking for a good 2-player board game? This superhero adventure is worth suiting up for
  2. 2
    Trails Beyond the Horizon review: "This JRPG's thrilling real-time and turn-based combat evolves Metaphor ReFantazio's hybrid battles, making up for a poorly paced adventure"
  3. 3
    Scythe review: "This alt-history board game is still a gold standard for modern strategy"
  4. 4
    Skate Story review: "A beautiful and unique skateboarding game with great, stylized visuals set in a grungy underworld"
  5. 5
    Octopath Traveler 0 review: "The strongest entry in this retro-styled JRPG series yet, I love the greater focus on tactical battles"
  1. Return to Silent Hill protagonist James Sunderland
    1
    Return to Silent Hill review: "Neither an impressive adaptation nor coherent enough to act as a standalone film"
  2. 2
    28 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
  3. 3
    Avatar: Fire and Ash review: "Still a technical marvel, with some of the year's best action filmmaking"
  4. 4
    Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
  5. 5
    Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
  1. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams in Wonder Man.
    1
    Wonder Man review: "A low-key gem that's up there with the MCU's best"
  2. 2
    Starfleet Academy review: "It may feel a little different to what we're used to, but this is Star Trek through and through"
  3. 3
    A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review: "This Game of Thrones spin-off is a heartfelt and fun return to Westeros"
  4. 4
    Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
  5. 5
    Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...