Random US gangbangers? Barely human savages
Mexican Drug Cartels? Heavily armed savages
Russian Mob? Well dressed savages
Random muslims that just so happen to be criminals? I can’t even type what they call them.
But the Italians? Suave, well-spoken, extremely resourceful and classy.
I’m not sure what causes it. The most famous mob movies all talk about how they’re ultimately a bunch of backstabbers but they’re still so heavily mythologized. It wasn’t even that long ago that they had influence, we’re talking the late 80s where things started to take a turn.
Spartans weren’t even that successful military! They regularly got owned by Athens, Argos, Thebes, Corinth, Macedon, not to mention that their most famous battle had them crushed by Persians!