A license can't save what is esentially a reincarnation of the RTS steryotype.
The game does offer some interesting stuff, like a game type which has your racing to control the insantly powerful catapult, or super heros like the balrog and ents, but these features are few and far between.
Speaking of heros, they're actually done pretty well, even if Gandalf's speicial abilities look cool and suck.
If you're looking for a good RTS set in Middle-Earth, go with The Battle for Middle Earth. It's infinitly better.