"The Color of Money": Scorsese's Return to the Felt... Did it Beat the Original?

Okay, so I finally re-watched "The Color of Money" the other night. I remember seeing it in the theater back in '86, thinking Paul Newman was still so cool. And he is, don't get me wrong. But man, Tom Cruise... he just oozes that cocky, young energy as Vincent. It's a whole different vibe than Newman's Eddie Felson from the first movie, "The Hustler." Remember that one from '61, with Jackie Gleason as Minnesota Fats? That film was gritty, black and white, all about the soul of the game. Scorsese definitely brought his style, but it felt... different. More glitzy, maybe? That whole scene where Vincent is smashing the cues in the pool hall after winning? Totally Cruise. I mean, it's memorable, but does it have the same weight as, say, Eddie losing to Fats and feeling the sting of true defeat? Hmmm. I dunno. I think the relationship between Eddie and Vincent is really the heart of the movie. The push and pull, the mentorship gone sideways... it's good stuff. I thought Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Carmen was also perfectly cast. She was the smart, streetwise girl, playing both sides. But can we talk about that pool playing though? Cruise looked like he could actually handle a cue, not gonna lie. Anyway, is "The Color of Money" as good as "The Hustler"? I'm not sure. It's a solid flick, and a killer companion piece. But nothing beats the original. It's a classic for a reason. What do y'all think? Am I being too harsh? Anyone else catch this in theaters back in the day? Hit me with your thoughts!