2. Contrived Narrative
Here's one aspect that at least in Jackson's version of The Hobbit really doesn't feel up to scratch as far as The Lord of the Rings is concerned. The story relies on an awful lot of convenience during key moments, usually during the middle of action sequences when Gandalf shows up and kicks ass (notably when he turns the trolls to stone, and again when he kills a fleet of goblins using his powers). Though some might see the term "walking deus-ex machina" as a bit flippant given that Gandalf is basically a God and he's treated the same way in Tolkein's novels, it does fast become predictable how often he seems to just swoop in and save the day when the chips are down, primarily because his absences really set this sort of thing up. Also, in the climactic action sequence when the dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf are stuck up a tree hanging off the edge of a cliff, a gang of giant eagles swoop in out of nowhere with no explanation given and save the day. The fact that it wasn't telegraphed in the slightest or even explained is a tad frustrating, but then Rings fans are so immersed in the universe by this point that they'll probably just roll with it anyway.