MovieChat Forums > Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) Discussion > Big Problem with "Winter Soldier"

Big Problem with "Winter Soldier"

posted 8 years ago by pdlussier1
10 replies | jump to latest

Anyone else have issues with this name?

I guess you'd have to be born in the '70s or prior, or be fairly well educated re the Vietnam War to find its use upsetting, but I can't help but see political naiveté or malice behind this appellation being applied to Bucky Barnes.

Barnes first appeared in "Captain America" comics in 1941, and his Winter Soldier alter ego appears in 2005 when, at the height of the Iraq war, the term had resurfaced, used by the media and US soldiers who bravely spoke out against the senseless & criminal actions perpetrated in Iraq by the US. Right around this time, Vietnam War revisionists, subsidized by Republican and Bush cronies, were attempting to put another spin on the Vietnam War and the US consciousness since too many of its lies and atrocities were being paralleled with Iraq.

Marvel was a big corporation in 2005 so I'm iffy on the idea that this wasn't deliberate.
And now, a search for Winter Soldier yields only page after page after page of Captain America-related results, and younger generations can only reference the comic book hero when asked what the term means to them.

I can't help but see this as a planned attempt to bury and distort (Bucky is a brainwashed bad guy, after all) an important part of history that the US government would prefer to keep under wraps.

Very upsetting.

Ignorance is bliss... 'til it posts on the Internet, then, it's annoying.

[–] nillindeiel 8 years ago

Marvel was a big corporation in 2005 so I'm iffy on the idea that this wasn't deliberate.

Here's what Brubaker had to say to TMS regarding the naming of the character:
http://www.themarysue.com/winter-soldier-history/

To get a better understanding of why someone would use “Winter Soldier” as the name of a comic book character, I turned to the person who used “Winter Soldier” as the name of a comic book character: Ed Brubaker. I asked Brubaker why he chose the name, and if the Winter Soldier Hearings were an influence. He told me:
I came up with the name in 2004, when I was pitching for [Captain America]. I liked the sound of it for a Russian assassin from the cold war, and also liked its connections to Thomas Paine, my personal favorite founding father. The “summer soldier” quote is from The American Crisis, and I believe he meant that the summer soldiers are only patriots when it’s easy to be, but the winter soldier is a true soldier for the cause.

But yes, the first time I heard the specific name was when reading about the Vietnam War and the Winter Soldier hearings. I think that sparked something, a name that could imply Russia’s cold winters and the cold war, that was also tied to atrocities in another war, and that connected all the way back to the American Revolution. It’s a very evocative name for a Captain America villain.

It’s heartening to know that Brubaker was aware of not only the hearings, but of the Thomas Paine quote that gave them their name. A lot more thought went into the name than it simply sounding cool.

Nillindeiel

Agent Hill: ...Then aliens invaded New York and were beaten back, by among others, a giant green monster, a costumed hero from the 40's.... and a god.

Agent Ward: I don't think Thor is technically a god.

Hill: Well...you haven't been near his arms.

~Agents of SHIELD; Season 1 Episode 1 "Pilot"

[–] pdlussier1 8 years ago

Mighty kind. Thanks for the info.

Ignorance is bliss... 'til it posts on the Internet, then, it's annoying.

[–] haxemon 8 years ago

Nillindeiel shares. She's nice like that.

Reading my signature constitutes admission that I am correct. (Too late)

[–] fiero-49251 8 years ago

I always thought of it as something synonymous or akin to a "nuclear winter" going back 50 years! 

- - http://scifiblogs3.blogspot.com/ - - Sci-fi, Batman, & E:FC

- - http://www.childrenofrassilon.com - - Homage to DW & B7

[–] pdlussier1 8 years ago

That name or some variation on that would have made more sense to me, actually.

Can't say I'm satisfied with the answer Brubaker gave--don't think he gave much thought to the potential impact--but at least I have an answer...

Ignorance is bliss... 'til it posts on the Internet, then, it's annoying.

[–] fiero-49251 8 years ago

Loved the battle off the bridge before being captured by Hydra, but I had to question 2 things! I know it was for affect Rodgers going through a bus window, but the electric truck hit almost simultaneously! Then all the shooting at the shield when his legs were well exposed! Those 2 things had me SMH! Still liked the movie a lot! 

- - http://scifiblogs3.blogspot.com/ - - Sci-fi, Batman, & E:FC

- - http://www.childrenofrassilon.com - - Homage to DW & B7

[–] pdlussier1 8 years ago

There's always logical probs in action movies if the good guy(s) is to make it out alive... doubly true for Superhero flicks, unfortunately. Though Schwarzenegger's "Commando" is hard to beat re nonsense.

Can't say I'm a fan of Superhero movies, but I do like giving them a shot. Occasionally, I am surprised.
This was one such instance. "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" was by far the better of the three, and a generally good, fun film, IMO.

But don't get me started on the issues plaguing the "Civil War" one. Just. Bad.

Ignorance is bliss... 'til it posts on the Internet, then, it's annoying.

[–] fiero-49251 8 years ago

I still haven't seen "Civil War;" waiting for it to hit cable! If in the store and a display is smacking me in the face, and under $20 I think about purchasing the disk, but I don't get out much these days! Looking forward to "Ultron" & "Apocalypse" as well; can be patient! "ST: Into Darkness" almost on a loop with "WS" so I just don't feel compelled to buy them like I used to! 

- - http://scifiblogs3.blogspot.com/ - - Sci-fi, Batman, & E:FC

- - http://www.childrenofrassilon.com - - Homage to DW & B7

[–] pdlussier1 8 years ago

For Superhero stuff, ditto on being very patient; I wait 'til they hit Netflix otherwise I'll probably not see them.

"Ultron" is another one I had a real hard time watching for several reasons, but I won't spoil your fun.

Ignorance is bliss... 'til it posts on the Internet, then, it's annoying.

[–] fiero-49251 8 years ago

Oh you're not surprising me with much! I tend to go hit Wiki to see what's what and I've read a lot of spoilers from here! It doesn't take away from actually seeing the movie later! "Underworld Awakening" was one that I blogged more about before even seeing it! I'm still not sure about this universal "power stones" that seem to take up a lot of drama in the animated series of the Avengers and "GOTG!" Growing up, the Mandarin had 10 on his fingers; now everyone has to have them including Thanos! Still wondering how they will bring Superman back from what I've heard of Batman's latest offering with Wonder Woman? So many I need to catch up on in the next few months! They're taking their sweet time releasing them to cable!  

- - http://scifiblogs3.blogspot.com/ - - Sci-fi, Batman, & E:FC

- - http://www.childrenofrassilon.com - - Homage to DW & B7