Captain America The Winter Soldier (2014) Steve Rogers vs Bucky Barnes Fight Scene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJVH0ERaDNY&t=51s&ab_channel=TopMonkey
(It’s really quiet for some reason but this was the best version I could find on YouTube)

The scene starts with Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes staring at each other in the expanse of the Helicarrier. Steve has to connect the computer chip in order to stop the bad guys taking over the world and Bucky tries to stop him. This scene demonstrates a lot of different angles and with the exception of the stare-down at the beginning is extremely fast pasted for most of it. Additionally, it cuts between many different angles and shots, including wide shots. This emphasizes the expanse of where the characters are and the height at which they can fall from. The stare-down focuses on their facial expressions and emphasizes the emotions of the characters. The scene is very fast-paced for most of its duration to help convey the intensity and the narrative significance of the fight. The cuts have more to do with the movement than the music. The pace speeds up and slows down based on what the characters are doing. It is interesting editing choice to cut on the movements and have the music as a support. Part of the significance of the scene is that Steve doesn’t want to fight Bucky, but Bucky has been brainwashed into wanting to fight him. The close-ups on Bucky’s face emphasize his internal struggle because he knows that Steve is significant, but he doesn’t know why so he’s conflicted about completing his mission to stop Steve and ultimately kill him while contending the feeling that he shouldn’t. The close-ups highlight how Bucky starts out completely emotionless to portray him as a brainwashed machine and becomes more expressive throughout the fight. This scene is rhythmic in the way that it follows the character’s movements. There are a lot of cuts as they are fighting but then slows down slightly to highlight certain motions. It is a Marvel film, so it’s not really abstract or experimental in any way because it is meant to be as mainstream as possible to appeal to the blockbuster audience. It is very deliberate in its editing decisions to be exactly what the audience expects and to not subvert expectations in any way. I learnt from this scene the significance of rhythm and that edit can have rhythm from the movement not only from the music.