I always see people rate TASM and TASM2 as being either the worst or near the bottom of Spider-Man movies but I think there was still a lot of good with them and quite a lot of things I liked more than the MCU Spider-Man. Now starting off what I disliked I will admit that the villains were lacking. The only one I felt was good was Dr Connors/The Lizard with the only bad thing is his Lizard design (but he still looked really creepy and great). Harry had potential but he should've been saved for TASM3 with his disease slowly affecting rather than how rapid it started to affect him. Electro was wasted and Rhino was... well he was there. The Raimi villains were all fantastic and the MCU villains were really good as well. The other thing is too much of a focus on Richard Parker and making Peter special. I am not against Spider-Man focusing more on science but I feel the whole subplot in TASM2 was unnecessary. And yes I will admit TASM2 was a disappointment but I don't think it was terrible and if Sony didn't interfere it could've rivaled Spider-Man 2. Now onto what I think TASM did better compared to both Raimi and MCU
1. Best Spider-Man- I will die on this hill and say Andrew Garfield was the best Spider-Man. He just had the perfect blend of charisma and playfulness. Pretty much any action scene in TASM and TASM2 was so much fun. Tobey just felt too stiff at times and Holland while better as Spider-Man than Tobey just lack the energy and charisma Garfield had. His suits were also amazing as well (TASM2 having easily the best suit design of any Spider-Man movie and best Spider logo) and his movements were fantastic. I see people criticize Garfield for being too attractive or acts too cool and not a realistic nerd but I disagree. Whenever he talks to girls he always stutters and acts awkward even with Gwen. And he is sure a lot closer than Holland who has plenty of friends. I will say he did look a little old for a 17-18 year old but it wasn't that distracting to me and is sometimes the voice I read Spider-Man comics with (along with Keaton and Yuri). Speaking of Gwen
2. Best love interest. Hands down Gwen is the best love interest and way better than either of the MJs. Gwen in the Ditko-Lee era was never that great of a character and before Spider-Gwen and some modern interpretations she was only remembered for dying. But man TASM did a fantastic job. Emma Stone was perfect and she wasn't just a damsel in distress and actually helped Peter defeat the villains in both movies. MJ in FFH only helped Spidey by accident. In the Raimi movies I never cared for MJ and how dead Christine Durst was and MJ in the MCU is just way too over the top as a socially awkward loner. The romance in TASM just felt the most natural and best of any superhero movie
3. Action and affects- Honestly I think the action and effects easily rival the Raimi trilogy (which still hold up today) and are leagues above the MCU Spider-Man. it is honestly surprising how much the MCU affects regressed compared to TASM2 especially with the web slinging and suit ripples. A lot of the action in Homecoming and in FFH just felt dull and although FFH had its moments I just felt TASM was overall much better. He really moved and fought like actual spider
4. Better side characters- The Raimi trilogy did the side characters like Aunt May and Harry a lot better but TASM is still heads and shoulders above MCU Spider-Man. I already went over love interests so moving on to supporting characters. First off Flash in TASM was so much better and it honestly sucks how little we saw of him. In Raimi Spider-Man he was just a generic bully/jock which worked fine for what it was but MCU Flash is just pathetic. IDK if it is the writing or just miscast but Flash is just plain stupid in the MCU and doesn't come off as a bully. I know they wanted to do something but it just was a misguided direction. Flash in TASM started off as a bully but after Ben died we saw him being sympathetic to Peter and by the end they were good friends. Again I only wish we saw more of him. Now Raimi Aunt May is easily the best and while TASM May was essentially the dollar store version of the previous May she is still way better than MCU's Aunt May. I'm not even gonna bother with a rant because that is how insignificant she is in the MCU whereas the previous two were pretty damn vital for Peter's story. As for Peter's friends both Harrys are way better than Ned. Honestly I kinda question what was even the point of making Ned Leeds Peter's best friend but casting a man who looks like Ganke from the Ultimate Spider-Man Miles series. If they have him become the Hob Goblin why even bother when there is a far superior version? Again I get Harry has been done before but changing things for the sake of being different isn't an excuse. Peter's other classmates are just plain forgettable and pretty much cannon fodder
Honestly it sucks TASM failed and at this point I'd rather get TASM3 over another MCU Spider-Man because of how fantastic Garfield was which I thought I'd never say. I always wanted Peter in the MCU but now that he is here it just feels underwhelming and a huge downgrade. I really loved Holland in the Russo directed movies but in his own movies he just hasn't been that great and I honestly wish they brought Garfield back. I know it was a longshot but if JK Simmons can come back as JJJ there is no reason they couldn't bring Andrew back. It honestly would've been nice to see a young adult Spider-Man acting like an actual scientist like in Spider-Man PS4 which would've been interesting and different from both previous version since while Raimi's Spider-Man was an adult he never did anything science-y despite being intelligent and TASM who only graduated college. I know we haven't gotten a teen high school romcom Spider-Man movie but honestly given what we got I'm glad Raimi and Webb didn't go that direction. Spider-Man barely ever focused on High School and as neat as it could've been it was completely blown in the MCU. On top of that I feel TASM3 has way more potential Spiderman Something relating to Home I guess. Yeah Peter's identity is revealed to the world but honestly it was just way too soon not to mention if they put MJ or Aunt May or any of his classmates in danger I simply won't give a shit because of how little they were developed. Call me a cynic but I honestly think this was just Marvel's excuse to get pass the secret identity thing with Spider-Man so he can be like every other hero who doesn't really have a secret identity. I wouldn't be surprised if Peter inherits Stark Industries by the end of Spider-Man HOM3. It is honestly a shame that the MCU has wasted Spider-Man when everyone thought this would be the magnum opus of Spider-Man and I did too. Again I will give credit where credit is due the villains in MCU Spider-Man are a lot better even if they tie way too much with Stark and are decent movies but I honestly like TASM1 better than both and certainly like TASM2 over Homecoming